This week, the Clinton County Community Foundation, Downtown Lock Haven, Inc. and the Clinton County Economic Partnership held an event, hosted by Lafayette Lodge 199, Free & Accepted Masons on Main Street, to highlight this and introduce an individual who is looking to invest in the area.

The event featured speakers from these organizations along with local realtor Beth Riccardo, Steve Getz and Carol Cillo of the Clinton County Arts Council and Daniel Agold, a real estate investor from Washington, D.C., who is looking to invest in the area.

Agold spoke briefly about why he found Lock Haven to be a good area to consider for real estate investment.

Agold said his venture into property investment began when he purchased a home in DC with a basement rental. This became a side project while he worked in a federal government IT role.

LAURA JAMESON/THE EXPRESS Downtown Lock Haven, Inc. Manager Rick Schulze talks to attendees about the various events the organization holds each year and the non-profit’s mission to foster growth in the city’s central business district.

Following DOGE cuts, Agold said he had to reconsider what he would do next, leading to focusing more on property investment.

He said at the time he had the chance to look at properties in Lock Haven.

“I took advantage of the opportunity to explore commercial investment, which I hadn’t done as of yet,” he said.

Agold said a variety of reasons drew him to Lock Haven.

“I see the magic to why you’re here,” he said, noting it serves as a “gateway community” being nestled next to the West Branch of the Susquehanna. He also said he was drawn to the area because of the opportunity to utilize and enhance historic architecture.

LAURA JAMESON/THE EXPRESS Clinton County Economic Partnership Tourism Director Melissa Dally and Chamber/Leadership Director Megan Wheeler spoke to attendees about the county’s outdoor recreation and how it ties into the city as well as the Enterprise Zone, a loan program offered to businesses.

He also touched on the arts, and how the focus in Lock Haven also was a draw.

“I was in the band in high school so arts have a special place in my heart,” he said. Through connecting with CCAC member Steve Getz and CCCF Outreach Coordinator Bob Rolley, Agold said he was able to see just how much Lock Haven has to offer.

He emphasized the value of the arts and how it can often increase property values as well.

“Lock Haven represents an attractive setting of adaptive historical structure for mixed use, civic and community space,” he said. This paired with outdoor recreation, the historic allure of the city’s downtown and strong seasonal tourism and staple events drew him in even more.

However, one of the biggest reasons Agold said he chose to invest in the area was the community, particularly the organizations and individuals who helped him feel welcome.

LAURA JAMESON/THE EXPRESS City Planner and Interim Manager Abbey Roberts, right, and Community Life Director Kasey Dumm, left, spoke about the economic development in the city and how staff look to help foster growth as well as teased the dates for the upcoming Summer Concert Series.

“You guys have made such a warm welcome and this decision even easier,” he said. “The real value here is community.”

The event was MCeed by Bob Rolley, CCCF Outreach Coordinator.

Rolley said the foundation along with the organizations gathered on Wednesday morning have created a lot of positive energy in the community over the years, energy that is being noticed by people like Agold.

He noted the foundation is looking to shift to a community leadership role like DLH and the CCEP. He added the organization is currently looking for an executive director and a space to call home downtown.

Ultimately, Rolley said everyone had gathered to talk about “Why Lock Haven?”

LAURA JAMESON/THE EXPRESS Local realtor Beth Riccardo, of Beth Riccardo Real Estate, spoke to attendees about property investment opportunities and the growth the area has seen — some of which can be attributed to AirBnBs in Western Clinton County and a sprawling effect from Centre County.

“There’s a lot going on here,” he said.

This energy and focus was exhibited by DLH Manager Rick Schulze and CCEP Tourism Director Melissa Dally. Both spoke about how integral the city and its downtown are to tourism, both locally and regionally.

Schulze said his philosophy is relationship building.

“If the public and visitors to the city can develop a feeling of community, they begin to feel a part of that community and look to come back,” he said.

As a former faculty member at Commonwealth University-Lock Haven, Schulze said he also is looking to grow the ties between the university’s students and downtown.

LAURA JAMESON/THE EXPRESS Steve Getz and Carol Cillo, representing the Clinton County Arts Council, spoke about the annual LH Jams festival and all the artistic opportunities and programs the arts council provides.

During a recent Accepted Students Day Event, he said he spoke to students about the importance of expanding their time at the university outside of just academics.

“There’s more to college than just the academic experience. You need to make us your home,” he said. He noted many parents’ eyes would “light up” as he spoke about this connection.

DLH, whose goal is to promote small business downtown and create a destination for visitors through its beautification initiatives, has a lot of staple events coming up, Schulze said.

This includes the Eggstravaganza on March 28, where participating businesses have come together to create a large raffle basket. Schulze noted Elsa and the Easter Bunny will also be roaming downtown that day.

He commended the businesses for their work in creating the Eggstravaganza and other events.

“We have such a dedicated group of core merchants… they are already ready to do that work,” he said.

Schulze said DLH is also preparing to celebrate the volunteers that make events possible downtown.

“So many people volunteer in so many ways,” he said.

The organization’s annual Final Friday street closures will kick off on May 29 with the theme “America’s Birthday.” There will be a live band, outdoor dining and more.

On Saturday, June 13, and in conjunction with the Sentimental Journey Fly-In, DLH will hold its annual Best of Clinton County Festival and Parade. Schulze said, new this year, is a Kids Festival in the East Main Street parking lot, organized and put on by Beyond the Bell.

“We’re also working with the university for its annual boxing match on Main Street in July,” Schulze said.

Schulze and DLH’s board of directors and committees are also in the process of preparing for events later in the year, such as Haven Holidays and Small Business Saturdays.

“There are so many exciting things happening and I’m happy to have volunteers and a board that supports them,” Schulze said.

Dally’s comments broadened the impact of tourism throughout the county through arts, outdoor recreation and more. She did say, however, that a strong Main Street program is a key factor in tourism.

“Having a strong Main Street program leads to a growth in tourism,” she said.

She noted the arts and outdoor recreation are tied together through the city’s Active Arts Corridor project and the partnership between the LH Jams festival in August with the National Canoe and Kayak Race — which Lock Haven will host for the second year.

“Outdoor recreation is often tied into the arts. They’re enjoying both while they’re here,” she said.

Dally also touched on the many trail races throughout the area that bring in people from all across the country, and even the world.

New this year, the county will host the Pennsylvania Grindoro Race on July 17-19. This bike race will bring about 300 to 400 people to the city for the weekend.

“They want to have that small town experience, to go to places like Avenue 209,” she said of why the International trail race organization picked Lock Haven.

Looking towards the future, Dally said she’d like to see more large organizations choose Lock Haven for conferences.

“Facilities like this (the Masonic Temple) are special for people to come in, have a conference and explore downtown,” she said. “People can linger longer.”

CCAC representatives Steve Getz and Carol Cillo spoke more in depth about the arts and how it ties into the growth the city and county has seen over the years.

Getz explained that the arts council “is not your typical arts council. We’re small but we’re mighty.”

“We bring in world class art, music and education programming,” he said.

One of their biggest events is the LH Jams Festival, which spans three days and includes special concerts — a fundraising event on Thursday, a block party on Friday and an all-day festival on Saturday. This year’s LH Jams is set for Aug. 6 through 8.

“LH Jams is the pinnacle of summertime,” he said. “It’s one of those things that everyone is invested in.”

Getz noted many community organizations and individuals invest time and funding to ensure the festival’s success, which brings bands in from all over the east coast and a variety of arts and crafts vendors right onto Main Street.

Outside of Jams, the CCAC also hosts a variety of youth and adult workshops.

Cillo said the arts council has expanded its youth camps in July.

“These are amazing and I encourage anyone who has children interested to take part. Though class size is limited,” she said.

Camps include Shutterflies photography camp, which has been a popular program each year; Camp Create, a multi-media class with morning and afternoon classes now; a Comic Strip class for teens whose instructor has illustrated for Marvel Comics; and claymation.

As for adult workshops, Cillo said the CCAC holds Fiber Arts workshops, print making and others.

“There are all kinds of opportunities,” she said. “The arts really bring people together.”

The city’s Community Life Director Kasey Dumm gave a sneak peak into the city’s 28th Annual Summer Concert Series, set to kick off in Triangle Park on Friday, June 19. Concerts on the floating stage will kick off on Sunday, June 28, with a new start time.

“We’ll be starting those at 7 p.m. We hope to beat the heat,” she said.

A full schedule for the concerts is expected to be released in the coming weeks, as the concert committee — made up of three members of council, a media sponsor and Getz — continues to finalize details.

Outside of events that are often a draw to the area, Wednesday’s event touched on ways that organizations are working to foster economic growth.

CCEP Chamber/Leadership Director Megan Wheeler spoke about ways the partnership is able to help investors with improvements and more.

“It’s a loan program that covers the majority of the county,” she said, noting the city and county have similar loan programs.

The Enterprise Zone program has a fixed 3 percent interest rate.

“The idea is to keep and retain people, business and industry, here,” she said.

The program is funded through the Department of Community and Economic Development and is advised by SEDA-COG.

“It’s a pretty quick process,” she said. “After you submit your application it’s about a 60 to 90 day turnaround.”

Wheeler encouraged those interested in the program to contact the CCEP’s office to learn more.

City Planner Abbey Roberts said the city continues to utilize its Comprehensive Plan to guide its decision making. She noted the plan had intense public input during its creation process.

Currently, the city is working to simplify its Zoning and Subdivision and Land Ordinance (SALDO).

“We want to make it more friendly for development and simplify it to make it easier for businesses to understand what they can and can’t do,” Roberts said.

The city and its contractor are in the process of speaking with stakeholders to find out what changes need to be made to the plan before it is brought to council for final consideration.

In 2025, council approved the active transportation plan, Linking Lock Haven, to make the city more friendly for multi-modal transportation.

Part of this, Roberts said, is to connect the city to the Bald Eagle Valley Trail in Castanea Township through to the university via its Active Arts Corridor on Jordans Alley.

“We’re bringing murals into the area with continued funding from Pennsylvania Creative Industries,” she said, noting many of the murals are already up around town. The city is also looking at funding to pave Jordans Alley to make it more bicycle friendly.

In a partnership with DLH, the city has helped dole out funding as part of the Enhance the Haven Face Grant, Roberts said.

The second round saw seven businesses receive funding to improve their face — from window replacements, painting and more. In total 10-12 businesses have taken advantage of the program to improve and preserve their facades on Main Street and in the Central Business District.

Keeping with the theme of investments, Beth Riccardo, of Beth Riccardo Real Estate, spoke about where real estate stands in Clinton County.

Riccardo noted the county has seen a boom in the AirBnB market, particularly in Western Clinton County where there have been improvements and growth in ATV trails and more.

“Investors from out of the area and locals who travel a lot are bringing very unique investments to the area,” Riccardo said.

She noted the Amish community has also begun to invest into properties, particularly multi-family rentals and AirBnBs.

“It’s a testament to the value of real estate,” she said. “Many properties in downtown Lock Haven are being purchased by Amish members and outside investors,” she said.

She added there has been a push in both Clinton and Centre counties for more affordable housing, which is an opportunity for investors to jump on in the area.

She commended the county and city’s redevelopment authorities, which are focused on rehabilitating dilapidated and abandoned properties to help increase property values throughout the county.

She also noted the work the city’s Property Maintenance Officer Brian Taylor has been putting in to ensure properties are improved within the city.

“It sets an example of how important properties are in the area,” she said.

Another positive outlook for real estate in the area is the continued “sprawl” effect out of Centre County.

Riccardo said that as the neighboring county continues to see growth, its property value sees an uptick. This, in turn, has led to many who work in that area to find affordable homes in Clinton County and commute.

With an aging population, Riccardo said there is opportunity for young investors in the county and the downtown area.

She emphasized that the market in the city is lower than other areas, with the average cost about $20 to $35 per square foot.

“That is so cheap. There is a lot of opportunity to invest in your property and ensure a high after market value,” she said.

Pairing this with an extremely low crime rate and high score in terms of walkability, Riccardo said investment in the city is a sure thing.